Eastern Michigan University negotiations with faculty union continue over holiday weekend; more details provided regarding health benefit plans and new proposals on enrollment incentives, pay equity study and summer pay

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YPSILANTI– Eastern Michigan University is continuing negotiations with its faculty union (EMU-AAUP) over the weekend, with negotiations taking place today, September 3, and scheduled for tomorrow, September 4. Negotiations are continuing with an independent body, Mediator appointed by the State.

The administration’s negotiating team provided union negotiators with further details on its health care proposal and its impact on employees. The University also proposed an enrollment incentive plan, amended its proposal on summer school compensation, and proposed a study on faculty pay equity.

When viewing an assessment of the 6.2% salary increase proposed by the administration (during the first year of the proposed contract) with increased costs for health plan conversion, every faculty member, whether or not participating in the PPO, HMO, or High Deductible Plan (HDHP), will see an overall increase in compensation. The amount of the increase varies depending on which of the three health coverage options is chosen and whether the faculty member choosees individual coverage, two-person coverage or family coverage. In each scenario, all faculty members will see an overall salary increase. The increase is smallest for those participating in the PPO plan, and much more for those participating in the HMO or HDHP plans.

Please see this chart to see side-by-side comparisons that show proposed salary increase and proposed costs for health plan conversion by plan offering and membership level..

As reported September 1the administration’s total salary proposal over five years is 15.2% with an increase of 6.2% (average for all faculty) in the first year, 2% in the second and third years and 2.5% four and five years (increased by 2% in the University’s previous offer). The latest proposal from the University would keep EMU ranked first among comparable universities in terms of total faculty compensation, including salaries and benefits. This graph shows total compensation, including medical benefits, among comparable universities. (Comparable universities were selected by an independent investigator during previous negotiations with faculty and accepted by the administration and EMU-AAUP.)

EMU faculty make up 36% of participants in EMU’s employer-sponsored health care plans, but account for 49% of the University’s total health care costs.

The University is seeking to adjust health insurance premiums to meet its obligations under Michigan Public Law 152, which limit the amounts that public employers may offer to a medical health plan, including payments for co-payments, deductibles, or payments into health savings accounts, flexible savings accounts, or similar accounts . In order to comply with the statute, the University’s faculty health care packages must be modified.

“The University is committed to finding common ground,” hisId Walter Kraft, University Vice President for Communications. “The fact that both teams are working over the bank holiday weekend indicates their mutual determination to reach an agreement.

“As the administration has repeatedly stated during negotiations, a key consideration behind our efforts in negotiations is balancing what we do at the bargaining table with the impact of rising costs on our students.”

Comprehensive updates and information about negotiations with the faculty union, including questions and answers about negotiations and the University’s budget, are available on the University’s website. contract negotiation webpage.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves over 15,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, honors, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In total, over 300 majors, minors, and concentrations are offered by the University’s Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Company; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Social Services; and its doctoral school. National publications regularly recognize UEM for its excellence, diversity and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU today.

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